Albion visit Donna Louise Children's Hospice

ALBION's first-team squad and coaching staff visited the Donna Louise Children's Hospice on Monday to spend valuable time with families.

The Donna Louise Trust is a charity which supports children with life-limiting conditions and their families across Cheshire and Staffordshire.

The Baggies squad, who also visited in 2015, were given a tour of the facilities by hard-working staff to learn more about the work of the charity, which currently provides an invaluable service for over 200 children and their families.

Tony Pulis has been involved with the Stoke-based hospice for over 10 years and has helped raise thousands of pounds in the process.

The Albion head coach has run the London Marathon, cycled from John O'Groats to Land's End, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and rowed from London to Paris.

He said: "When I was introduced to the Donna Louise over 10 years ago, it wasn't as vibrant as it is now. It wasn't as big.

"The improvements that have been made here are unbelievable, it's remarkable and great testament to the people here.

"But as footballers, we live in a bubble, we're oblivious to what really happens in the real world at times. Just showing the lads and showing them how lucky they are.

"To be able to give support and help in any way, shape or form is just fantastic for us, this group of players and all the teams I've been at."

Hospice director of income generation Liz Gratton could not speak highly enough of both Tony and the players.

"It's so important that people like Tony are involved, he's been good to us for so many years," she said.

"The squad came two years ago and there's quite a few of those guys who came back again.

"They were talking to me as we were going around and they remember bits from two years ago so it clearly stuck with them.

"They're so respectful and they're clearly engaging and listening to what we do.

"It's great for our families to see these guys, who are super heroes to a lot of people, just coming an experiencing their world. It really matters."

To learn more about the Donna Louise Children's Hospice or make a donation, click here